Journal box lid structure



NQ 1949- T. R. WEBER JOURNAL BOX LID STRUCTURE Filed June 15', 1946 ORNQE v INVENTOR 771eoa'ore 7?. WeZer Patented Nov. 1, 1949 JOURNAL BOX LID STRUCTURE Theodore R. Weber, Latrobe, Pa., American Locomotive Company,

assignor to New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 15, 1946, Serial No. 676,903 Claims. (Cl. 30847) This invention relates to journal box lid structures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a journal box lid structure including a pressed steel hood and a pressed steel lid pivotally connected together at the center portion of the lid by an improved connection which permits the lid to seat firmly on the journal box and to angle in all directions relative to the hood.

A further object is to provide a lid structure as aforesaid in which the means pivotally connecting the lid and hood includes a part limiting the swinging of the lid relative to the hood when the lid structure is swung to open the journal box.

A further object is to provide a pivotal connection between the lid and the hood which remains under spring tension whether the lid is in opened or closed position, thus preventing excess wear due to vibration in service.

A further object is to provide a lid structure having a connection between the lid and hood which provides limited universal movement and yet provides a means of firmly and substantially supporting the lid proper or cover member up on the box face.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this application, Figure l is a front view of a journal box lid structure constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, of the lid structure in its operative position, the journal box being indicated in dot and dash lines; Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional view of the hood alone; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section, on the line V--V of Fig. 3, of a portion of the journal box lid structure; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of a modification of the present invention; Fig. '7 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, of another modification of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. '7.

The journal box lid structure of Figs. 1-5, indicated in the drawing generally by the reference numeral l, is adapted to be connected to a journal box 2 by a hinge pin (not shown) which will be disposed in the eyes will pass through the cam lug 5 of the journal box. The journal box lid structure includes a lid 6 which is substantially square and covers the open face 1 of the journal box. A vertically ex- 3 of the hood 4 and tending bracket 8 is secured to the outer face of the lid 6 by rivets 9. This bracket 8 will be tensioned at all times with a rather severe increase during movement of the lid structure to close the box, and the rivets provide a strong connection adapted to withstand the tension forces. The bracket includes a semi-circular loop [0 with its axis in the transverse center plane of the box, that is to say, of the box open face I. The rivets 9 are in a line in the vertical or longitudinal center plane of the box. The outer portion of the loop I0 is also curved outwardly so that its outer face II is concave in cross section and so that its inner face I2 is convex in cross section, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3,

the axis of curvature of face l2 being in the vertical center plane of the box. The loop is integral at its ends with portions I4 which fit flush against the lid and through which the rivets extend. The bracket further includes a flange l5 perpendicular to the top portion I4 and an upwardly extending flange l6 integral with flange 15 and parallel to the portions l4. Flange It has an upper curved edge I! (Fig. 1), for a purpose presently to appear.

The lid 6 has, at opposite transverse sides of the bracket 8, two vertically spaced depressions [8 providing between them a curved ridge l9 having an outer convex face 20, and the outermost points of the two faces 20 are aligned on the aforementioned transverse center plane of the box.

The hood 4 is substantially rectangular in shape, as may be seen in Fig. 1. It has an outwardly pressed portion 2| at its top center providing a chamber 22 opposite the cam lug 5. At the bottom of this chamber, 22 is a curved seat 23 which extends transversely of the hood. There is an opening 24 in the hood below the seat 23, and the portions of the hood around the opening 24 are bent inwardly to provide flanges at the sides, top and bottom of the opening 24. The flange 25 at the top of the opening is curved concentric with edge I! (Fig. 1) and extending downwardly from the bottom of this flange 25 is a lip 26 which extends into the opening 24 beneath the flange [6 of the bracket 8. When the lid 6 is pressed tightly against the journal box there will be a slight clearance between the flange l6 and the lip 26 (Fig. 2). There are further flanges 21 at the sides of the opening 24, and a flange 28 at the bottom thereof, and flanges 25, 21 and 28 are integral and form a continuous ring reinforcing the hood about the opening 24.

The outer edge of the hood is also pressed inwardly to reinforce the hood peripherally, there being a flange 29 at the top, flanges 30 at the sides, and a flange 3! at the bottom of the hood. The flange 3! at the bottom of the hood and the flange 28 at the bottom of the opening 24 extend inwardly the same distance (Fig. 4) and are connected by a curved wall 32 so that the portion of the hood below the opening 24 forms a curved pressed steel rib member or bar 33 having an outer semi-cylindrical face, the axis of which extends transversely of the hood in the aforementioned transverse center plane of the box, and the outer face of this bar 33 is concentric with the innermost portion of the inner face I2 of the loop If! so that it fits snugly therein (Fig. 2). Since the inner face l2 of theloop I0 is convex in cross section (Fig. 3), the loop l3 engages the bar 33 along the vertical center plane of the box with line contact only, this line contact being indicated at 34 in Fig. 3. Both the loop l0 and bar 33 are U -shaped in section onthe line of contact 34 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The curvature of face l2 on loop Ill fades out at the top and bottom of the loop so that the portion at the top of the loop IE] adjacent the top portion l4 seats firmly on the adjacent portion of the flange 28 of bar 33, the engagement being for the full transverse width of this portion of the loop.

The portion of the bracket above the loop l0 substantially fills the opening 24, leaving only slight clearance between the outer margins of this portion of the bracket and the defining Wall of the opening, as is clearly shown in Fig. l. The bracket substantially closes the opening 24 and limits the passage of foreign matter which might collect on the horizontal surfaces between the lid and hood.

A torsion spring 35 is disposed between the lid and hood, this spring having spaced coils 36 seated in the seats 23, an upwardly extending loop 31 carrying a roller 38 which bears against the cam lug 5, and depending legs 39, circular in cross section, which rest with point contact on the outermost points of the ridges l9 (Fig. 5). The chamber 22 provides sufficient clearance for the roller 38 (Fig. 2). The coils 36 press outwardly on the hood and the legs 39 press inwardly on the lid, holding the lid firmly on the journal box. There is thus tight spring-pressed engagement between the loop l0 and bar 33, the loop l0 being urged inwardly and the bar 33 being urged outwardly by the spring.

The journal box lid structure is adapted to be used on a new journal box or to be used to replace a worn out journal box lid structure on an old journal box. In either case it is imperative that the lid 6 seat tightly against the box to seal the open face 1 against inadvertent entrance of foreign matter such as dirt or water. In the case of assemblage of the lid structure on an old box in which the metal surfaces defining the open face 1 are not new and in which the hole through the cam lug 5 has become worn, it isv essential that the lid structure be sufficiently flexible so that the lid can firmly seat against the journal box and fully close the open face 1. This flexilibity must be obtained without sacrifice in strength and of structural rigidity of the parts of the lid structure.

According to the present invention the lid 6 has sufficient freedom of movement relative to the hood so that it can firmly seat against the journal box even though the hood is forced out of paral lelism with the lid by a hinge pintle which is incorrectly disposed in a worn hole in the lug 5. This freedom is obtained by the ability of the loop ID to pivot about the axis of the bar 33 and also to pivot about the axis at right angles to the axis of the bar 33, this axis being the vertical axis of curvature of the face I2. Since the loop l0 engages the curved part of the bar 33 only along the line of contact 34 (Fig. 3) the lid can adjust itself transversely relative to the hood, and at the same time can adjust itself vertically (longitudinally) by turning about the aXis of the bar 33. The lid thus has limited universal movement relative tothe hood since it can pivot relative to the hood about two aXes at right angles to each other.

Since the spring legs 39 engage the lid with merely point contact at the outermost parts of the ridges E9, the legs do not prohibit the free universal movement of the lid. This point contact is obtained due to the fact that the axis of each of the legs is at right angles to the axis of the curved face of the ridge 19 which it engages. Thus the legs do not have a stabilizing effect upon the lid.

The engagement of the lid and hood is along the line of contact 34, as aforesaid, and this line of contact 34 cuts the transverse center line of the open face 1. Furthermore, the engagement of the spring legs against the lid is along this transverse center line so that the resultant force holding the lid against the box is at the center of the open face i, and this assures that the lid will bear evenly against the journal box at all points around the open face 1. Furthermore when the structure. has been swung about the axis of the eyes 3 to open the journal box, the parts of the lid structure will be held in springpressed engagement, preventing rattling and inadvertent movement, and since the legs bear against the lid at a point in line with the hoodlid connection, the legs will not tend to swing the lid around the hood-lid connection. The closeness of fit of the bracket in the opening 24 limits any excessive rotation of the lid relative to the hood around an axis perpendicular to the plane of, and passing through the center of, the lid, but permits slight movement, this slight movement further being permitted by the curvature of the edge I? and flange 25.

Referring now to Fig. 2, when it is desired to swing the lid structure about the axis of the eyes 3, the bottom of the lid is seized and swung outwardly, and through the first increment of movement the lid fulcrums against the upper edge of the box until the flange l6 engages the lip 26 whereupon the lid and hood then move as a unit. When it is desired to swing the lid structure down to close the open face of the journal box, the upper edge of the lid engages the inner edge of the adjacent portions of the flanges so of the hood so that the lid and hood move downwardly as a unit.

The bar 33, besides serving as a pivotal connector for the hood and lid, also forms a hollow structural member adding to the transverse rlgidity of the hood. The lip 26 also contributes to the transverse rigidity of the hood and, with the flanges 25 and 27 and bar 33, strengthens the portion of the hood which was weakened by cutting out the material to form the opening 24. The hood is further strengthened by the outwardly pressed portion 25 forming the chamber 22. The hood therefore is structurally very strong and may be pressed by simple pressed steel operations. The lid is structurally reinforced by the bracket 8 in both vertical and transverse directions, and is further reinforced by its peripheral flange and by an inwardly extending rib 40, this rib 40 being square in shape and fitting fairly closely to the defining walls of the box around the open face 1. Ribs formed by the pressing of the depressions l8 and ridges l9 further provide transverse structural parts adding to the rigidity of the lid.

The present invention as aforedescribed affords a journal box lid structure which can be economically formed by a simple method from pressed steel, and the special characteristics of the hood assure that the pressed steel hood will be of maximum strength and rigidity. It is a further feature of the present invention that the lid structure has a minimum of parts, the single bracket 8, which may be simply formed out of pressed steel, performing the function of pivotally connecting the lid and hood and further performing the function of limiting the swinging of the lid relative to the hood during opening of the open face I of the journal box. The provision of the integral bar 33 pressed from the hood has eliminated the need of a separate connector member for coacting with the bracket loop H) for effecting the universal connection between the hood and lid. The opening 24 exposes the top rivet 9 so that the rivetting of the bracket 8 to the lid can be economically accomplished.

The lid structure shown fragmentally in Fig. 6 distinguishes from the lid structure of Figs. 1 to 5 in that the bracket 8 has an extension 4| which depends below the bottom of the lid providing a lever for use in swinging the lid structure to open and closed position. This lever is strengthened against bending by side flanges 42 which are integral with the extension 4| and with the other portions of the bracket, blending into the loop ill of the bracket. While only one side of the bracket 8 is shown in Fig. 6, it will be understood that the other side is similarly formed.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Here the flange 3|" of the hood is provided with two holes 43 through which the spring legs 39" extend. The depressions l8 and ridges H! of the lid of Figs. 1 to 5 are omitted in the lid 6" of Figs. 7 and 8.

A plate spring 44 is disposed inside the bar 33" and extends to the sides of the hood (Fig. '1). The plate spring 44 presses the lid and hood apart so that they will be maintained in springpressed relation when raised from the box and will not rattle.

The spring legs 39" urge the hood inwardly toward the lid by hearing on the innermost margins of the holes 43. The outer wall of the hood is thus pressed against the outer ends of the plate spring 44 and the plate spring transmits the force to the lid 6 which it engages at its center. The plate spring will be of s'ufficicnt strength so that it will transmit the force of the spring legs 39" to the lid 6" while maintaining engagement of the hood and bracket along the line of contact 34".

Parts of the lid structure of Fig. 6 and of Figs. '7 and'S corresponding to like parts of the lid structure of Figs. 1 to 5 are indicated by like references with one or two accents respectively added.

While there have been hereinbefore described approved embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that many and various changes and modifications in form, arrangement of parts and details of construction thereof may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims are contemplated as a part of this invention.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A journal box lid structure comprising an eyeless lid; a hood having an opening and an integral lip extending downwardly into said opening; a spring between said lid and hood; and means connecting said lid and hood for limited luniversal movement therebetween including a bar-like portion at the bottom of and integral with said hood, extending transversely across the center of said lid and being U-shaped in cross section with a cylindrical face at its side remote from said lid, said bar-like portion defining the bottom of said opening, and a bracket secured to said lid and having a loop extending over and engaging said bar-like portion and curved concentrically therewith, the axes of curvature of said cylindrical face and loop coinciding and extending transversely of said lid, said loop also being curved about an axis normal to and crossing said first mentioned axes of curvature, whereby its inner face engages said bar-like'portion with line contact along the vertical center plane of said structure, said bracket having an upwardly extending flange disposed in said opening and overlapping said lip, limiting outward swinging movement of the bottom of said lid relative to said hood about said transverse axes of curvature.

2. A journal box lid structure comprising an eyeless lid having at each side of its vertical center line two vertically aligned depressions providing therebetween a curved ridge, said ridges having a common axis in the transverse center plane of said lid; a hood; a torsion spring between said lid and hood having coils engaging said hood and having depending legs, circular in cross section, engaging said ridges with point contact; and means connecting said lid and hood for limited universal movement therebetween including a bar-like portion at the bottom of and integral with said hood, extending transversely across the center of said lid and being U-shaped in cross section with a cylindrical face at its side remote from said lid, and a bracket secured to said lid and having a loop extending over and engaging said bar-like portion and curved concentrically therewith, the axes of curvature of said cylindrical face and loop coinciding and extending transversely of said lid, said loop also being curved about an axis normal to and crossing said first mentioned axes of curvature, whereby its inner face engages said bar-like portion with line contact along the vertical center plane of said structure.

3. A journal box lid structure comprising an eyeless lid; a hood having a bottom wall provided with spaced holes; a torsion spring between said lid and hood having coils pressing outwardly on said hood above said bottom wall, and legs disposed in said holes and pressing inwardly against said bottom wall; means connecting said lid and hood for limited universal movement therebetween including a bar-like portion at the bottom of and integral with said hood, extending transversely across the center of said lid and being U-shaped in cross section with a cylindrical face at its side remote from said lid, and a bracket secured to said lid and having a loop extending over and engaging said bar-like portion and curved concentrically therewith, the axes of curvature of said cylindrical face and loop coinciding and extending transversely of said lid, said loop also being curved about an axis normal to and crossing said first mentioned axes of curvature, whereby its inner face engages said bar-like portion with line contact along the vertical vcenter plane of said structure; and resilient means within said bar-like portion and engaging said hood and said lid for transmitting the force of said spring to said lid.

4. A journal box lid structure comprising an eyeless lid; a hood having an opening adjacent its bottom; a spring between said lid and hood; and means pivotally connecting said lid and hood including a bar-like portion forming the part of said hood below said opening and extending transversely across the center of said lid, said bar-like portion being U-shaped in vertical cross section with a convex face at its side remote from said lid, and a bracket secured to said lid and having a loop extending over and engaging said bar-like portion convex face, the upper leg of said loop being disposed in said opening and having a part coacting with an adjacent part of said hood to limit swinging of said lid relative to said hood about the axis of said bar-like portion.

5. A journal box lid structure comprising an eyeless lid; a hood having a rectangular opening with flanged sides, said hood having flanged sides, the portions of said hood at each side of said opening being channel-shaped in cross section; a spring between said lid and hood; and means pivotally connecting said lid and hood including a bar-like portion integral with said hood below said opening and extending transversely across the center of said lid, said bar-like por-, tion being U-shaped in vertical cross section with a convex face at its side remote from said lid, the flange at the bottom of said opening forming the top leg of said bar-like portion, and a bracket secured to said lid and having a loop extending over and engaging said bar-like portion convex face.

THEODORE R. WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,029,521 Couch Feb. 4, 1936 2,292,747 Dorey Aug. 11, 1942 

